Automatic sirup-fountain



no Model.)

W. W. ROBBINS. 7 Automatic Sirup Fountain No. 230,717. Pa ten t ed Aug. 3, 1880.

FIGJN cu; J} i 24. la;

FIG-.2, FIGS.

. i 514 K} IA e 1 V. e. I

-NPE|ER. FNOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON D O lnv-enhii' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEQ WILLIAM WV. ROBBINS, OF MILFORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

AUTOMATIC SlRUP-FOUNTAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 230,717, dated August 3, 1880.

Application filed June 4, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. ROBBINS,

of Milford, in the county of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic sirup-Fountains; and. I do hereby de' clare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

It is very important in canned fruit that the top of the fruit shall always be kept covered with sirup until the can is opened for use, such sirup covering prcventin g the fruit from molding or spoiling. Several means have been devised to effect this; but none, so far as I am aware, are adapted for the tin cans having tin covers soldered or otherwise fastened thereon, and which are most extensively used, nor adapted for use with any other can, jar, or was sel having ordinary covers.

The object of my invention is not only to furnish an automaticsirup fountain and feeder, but one which may be used with any kind. of fruit can and cover, and requiring no peculiarity of construction either in the can or in its cover, and no alteration of them, the fountain being complete in itself and needing only that its size be suited to the size of the can to which it is to be applied.

The invention consists in a hollow fountain or chamber adapted to be entirely inserted within the can, jar, or vessel above the fruit before the cover of the vessel is finally put on, this fountain having no openings or outlets excepting one at its bottom to let out the sirup and another small one in its side, all as more particularly hereinafter described.

Figure l is an elevation, and Fig.2 a bottom view, of my automatic fountain. Fig. 3 represents my device as applied and used within an hermetically-sealed can.

A is the sirup-fountain, made hollow,,'as shown, and having as its only openings the bottom outlet, 1), for feeding the sirup, and a small air inletor equalizer, c, to prevent any air which may occupy the space around the outside of the fountain from coming in contact with the fruit, and to insure that such space shall have a supply of sirup resting on the fruit. Without such side opening that portion of the inclosed air which passes up around the outside of the fountain when the latter is within the sealed can could not readily enter the fountain and expel the sirup until the supply of sirup outside of the fountain and within the neck of the can should fall low enough to permit the air to enter beneath the fountain through the opening I); but with'the side orifice, c, any air rising in the annular space 0 outside of the fountain and between it and the wall or neck of the sealed can, and accumulating there, will force or cause the sirup in this annular space to lower, and when such air reaches down to this orifice it will at once pass through it into the fountain, and the sirup will pass out of the bottom at b, the air at the same time entering the bottom hole, I), (if there be any air beneath the fountain,). and thus will be preserved an equilibrium of the sirup at both the outside and inside of the fountain, thus keeping the entire surface of the fruit plentifully covered with the sirup, and preventing any portion of such fruit from being in contact with a body of air.

The vbottom of the fountain is preferably made concaved, as shown, and to any degree desired, to facilitate the entrance of the air into the hole b.

The fountain is made with a rim or molding,

d, of ogee or other form, or with any equivalent device, to facilitate the handling of the same and so that it may not slip from the tinare to be sealed; that it is not itself a cover,

and performs no function as such that the same fountains may be used from year to year tirely within an ordinary fruit can or vessel, and to be confined beneath its cover, and consisting of a box or chamber entirely closed except at an opening, I), provided in its base, and at an air-inlet, 0, provided in its side, all 15 as shown and described.

WILLIAM W. ROBBINS.

and with any different styles of cans whose months will receive them beneath their covers; that no special construction of can or of covers is required, and that it is an automatic equalizer as well as feeder.

I am aware that bottle-stoppers and jarcovers have been made hollow; but my invention is neither a stopper nor a cover.

I claim A sirupfonntain adapted for insertion en- Witnesses GEO. E. HATCH, JAS. M. LAWS. 

